I used to think I was
a narcissist. People would tell me that my self-esteem was too high. I believed
them for years. I took the basic definition of a narcissist, that I was
consumed with self. Most people in their late teens are a little self-absorbed
not to mention spoiled, so I wasn't truly concerned with the label. I went with it, but didn't
internalize the negative traits associated with narcissism. Later I learned that
those that were so “concerned” with my esteem merely were mirroring their
issues on to me. It’s rare someone is going to tell you “I don’t fully like
myself, and I’m uncomfortable with how comfortable you are with yourself.”

via

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself.
Self-confidence is how you feel/think about your abilities. They go together
like peanut butter and jelly. These feelings help you to subconsciously and consciously determine the things you do and the things you accept from others.

I
love me some me. I celebrate my successes and my failures. I live by the
thought if he or she can do it, so can I. They aren't any smarter than I. I
really believe this.

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.

— Lao Tzu

I know I have faults
(a long list), and I accept them. I know I'm not perfect, but rather perfectly
imperfect. I don’t think I’m better than anyone, but I am equal to. My playing
ground is level. I don't put anyone down or above me.

My parents used to
tell me I was amazing and I could do ANYTHING I wanted. Guess what? I believed
them. Still do! Adults uplift younger children and we even lie to them
sometimes. You know that picture full of colorful squiggly lines that is
“beautiful and amazing,” although we really don’t know what it is. Truly it
doesn't matter what’s on that paper. That smiling face full of joy and
excitement and pride is what matters. In time, the child will learn his or her
strengths. Even if drawing isn't their strength, drawing may provide a great
stress relief and become a passion. Side note: not every passion leads to
purpose. However, in recognizing passion it helps lead us to our purpose.

Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.

— Alvin Price

My
parents would have dinner parties and allow me to sing for their guests. I cannot sing! Not at
all! I would sing Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits and those guests would cheer me on, but I now know that I can't sing. Nothing changed from then to now, but those adults built me up. I can carry a tune, but that’s the extent of that. I love singing and I
love music. It makes me feel great in good and bad times. I have a playlist on
my iTunes entitled “pity party” whenever I was upset I would get five to ten
minutes of listening to the best sad songs I've ever heard. I used to write
songs and would/will make up a song and sing in a moment’s notice just to make
someone smile. That’s my purpose…helping others find their happy.

Hard work beats talent

— Tim Notke

My Huni is a personal
development coach aka personal trainer. He was working with this kid at a
basketball camp. I remember he came home and nicknamed the kid "mission
impossible." I ask about this kid weekly. I'm a sucker for the underdog, I
want everyone to succeed. This is the 5th week and Huni says mission impossible has so
much heart and drive that he puts in double the work to make up for the lack of
natural ability.

Self-esteem...can
be evaluated simply? How much do I love me? A lot.....is a systematic response.
Answer it in terms of : I won't accept XYZ because I recognize my worth. I am
worth: unconditional love, fulfilling interpersonal relationships, satisfying
work, an abundance of money.

Anything less than
your defined worth...is cheating yourself.

If you don't believe
your true worth, the Universe won't believe you and certain things will be held
from you. Exactly what you project will be returned to you. Want to stop dating
losers...think higher of yourself. We attract what we are. Want a better job,
produce better results. Don't allow yourself to just be content unless you
truly are content.Contentment doesn't include complaining.

Again, anything you
put your mind to you CAN do. You have to want to, believe you can, and get to work. Naysayers will forever
attempt to instill their fear into us by distraction and saying that we can't
do something. How we feel about ourselves impacts our interactions
throughout life. How we view our successes and failures determines future
failures and successes. Are you mission impossible or mission I AM POSSIBLE?
Email me, I would love to know!